As Trump Dominated The Docket, Divided Supreme Court Moved Boldly To The Right

In the past four years, the United States Supreme Court has seen its share of high-stakes decisions, but none have been as consequential as the ones that came out during the Trump presidency. With the court’s shifting ideological landscape, the court has issued a slew of decisions that have left many Americans wondering what the future of the country holds.

In the first few years of Trump’s presidency, the Supreme Court saw a significant shift in its composition. The appointment of Justice Brett Kavanaugh in 2018, following the retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy, tilted the court to the right. The addition of Justice Neil Gorsuch in 2017, who replaced the late Antonin Scalia, had already done so, but Kavanaugh’s appointment cemented the conservative majority.

Under the leadership of Chief Justice John Roberts, the court has made some significant decisions that have had far-reaching implications. One of the most notable was the ruling in the case of Rucho v. Common Cause, which struck down limits on political spending by corporations and unions. The 5-4 decision was seen as a major blow to campaign finance reform efforts and was criticized by progressives who saw it as a way to further entrench the influence of big money in politics.

The court also issued a major ruling in the case of Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, which ruled in favor of the state of Montana’s decision to allow a tax credit scholarship program that allowed students to use public funds to attend private schools. The decision was seen as a major victory for voucher advocates and a blow to public education.

Another significant decision came in the case of Department of Commerce v. New York, which allowed the Trump administration to add a question about citizenship to the 2020 census. The decision was seen as a major victory for the Trump administration and was criticized by civil rights groups who saw it as a way to undermine the accuracy of the census.

The court’s decisions have also had significant implications for the separation of powers between the branches of government. In the case of Seila Law LLC v. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the court ruled that the agency was unconstitutional and that its structure was invalid. The decision was seen as a major blow to the CFPB, which was created by the Dodd-Frank Act in response to the 2008 financial crisis.

Despite the controversy surrounding the court’s decisions, Chief Justice Roberts has defended the court’s impartiality, stating that the justices make decisions based on the law, not politics. However, many observers have questioned the court’s ability to remain impartial with the appointment of Trump as president. The president’s influence on the court has been unprecedented, and many have called for reforms to ensure that the court remains independent and impartial.

As the Trump presidency comes to a close, the future of the Supreme Court remains uncertain. The looming prospect of a presidential election and the potential for more court vacancies has left many wondering what the future of the court will hold. One thing is certain, however, the court has made significant changes in the past few years and will continue to shape the country’s laws and policies in the years to come.